Tilley Vapour Lantern?

Looked through the reference gallery and couldn’t find this one. Any idea?

 

@Chad Campbell

I think it’s a Tilley GL1, or very similar. Pictured here in Jim Dicks book.

 

Stevie is correct and those lamps are scarce.

 

Wow.. Is that for sale near you Chad ??

 

It was for sale but I bought it. It looks nice. Good buy?

 

Looks like it may be missing a piece or two from the picture in the ad.

 

Good for you!!! ... If the mica globe is anything to go by, it has some age to it?

There is a reason why you can't find it in the gallery..

 

The mica globe is broken.

 

Don't worry, it's a rare thing in itself, there are other ways of holding a glass globe in place, and you may be able to repair it!
Mica sheets should be available, if not then there is a very reputable maker of mica globes in your part of the world

You have done really well and as Jeff said, you have bagged an extremely scarce old Tilley !

 

@podbros Thank you for the kind words. I am very grateful for this forum and all the expertise and willingness to help. While I got lucky with a couple of finds, without someone else willing to share and be part of it, then I’m in big trouble with these pieces.

 

Rare lamp to find, even rarer in the States, it should have a glass, not mica, but the glass is rarer to find than the lamp, ohh it's missing the wire cage that holds the glass too...nice find though...

 

Wow.

 

@Anthony Thanks for the print ad. I would love to find the tri-pod! Was the tri-pod specific to this lantern or would any work?

 

The top part was specific. The legs were the same for the FL.


Having a look through some paperwork I find the glass for the GL1 is part number 801.
What is odd is that all globes have `heat resistant` in brackets. The 801 does not.
Perhaps this means the globe was so big it did not get so hot and if you found a glass that fits it would be usable even if not heat resistant.

 

Any chance of finding?

 

Theoretically yes. Practically no.
I will see if I can find some clearer pictures and perhaps you could make or get one made.
Worth doing for such a great lamp.

A detailed post with size comparisons is warranted for this one.

 

Maybe in a week or two, when I have more time, I can upload more detailed pictures, etc.

I’d love to see this up on a tripod and see how much light it throws off.

 

Just about the Holy Grail - or one of them, anyway.

Seriously, don't worry too much about the missing pieces - just be thankful you've got the lamp...

 

Agree!!

 

Please think long and hard before you do anything to that lamp - it's original only once. I'd do no more than to clean off the dust and do the minimum to have it running. No 'restoration' (however sympathetic) - you'll lose far more than you gain...

 

Like David said.
Make sure it is absolutely dry inside so the bottom doesn't rust out if it is left for long periods.

 

@David Shouksmith Thank you for the caution on this piece. There’s one thing I can assure you - I will not be taking any action without advice from people smarter than me. While I am anxious and eager, I also know I don’t have the skills to take on this project alone.

 

Looks like the control cock has been replaced at some point, and a FL pump retrofitted ? Working life repairs?
Definitely something rare and special...

 

Some good observations @steerpike451 .
Going on dates it is most likely to take an XN cock.

Is it XN or GF @Chad Campbell ??

Although the pump on this lamp does not match the literature, I would not be at all surprised if that pump did come with the lamp originally.
The pumps in the advertising look to be FL5. (1935)

 

I don’t have the lamp in my possession yet. A friend messaged me about it and picked it up for me. Won’t be in my possession for another week or two.

 

The control cock which is currently fitted to that lamp is a later GF., as it has that push on plastic knob and the original control cock would have been an XN..
The link below shows information about control cocks.

8 Tilley control cocks

 

Wooooow that is the most perfect find good on you I'm excited for you, see there is still gold in them hills, just amazing stuff.

 

GL1 is not at all common and I think I have seen maybe 6 or 7 in all my years of collecting. I was gifted parts of three some years ago and fettled one to run. I can't remember where the rest of them went.


The correct globe is part No 801 and I have only seen one example of that but the mica globe #186 with three hooks used on PL52 lamps will fit and with the globe cage missing is perhaps worth considering and I know Fred Kuntz has the measurements to make these.

The tanks for GL1 are steel and tend to rust and the three I had were corroded inside and out but not leaking so to preserve rather than restore I lined this one with POR15 and re painted it.

::Neil::

 

@Mackburner,

Hi mate what is this product and how much did you put inside the tank?
I have a couple of steel founts from different lamps.

 

@Buggerlugs , do a search on this forum for POR.
Lots there. Lots.